James Beaman
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BIO
My journey in show business has been an eclectic one, embracing classical theatre, musicals, the cabaret stage, celebrity impersonation, and more. I’ve also worked for many years as a makeup artist, a Pilates teacher, an acting coach and cabaret director. Versatility, transformation, expansive self expression—these are my passions! Here’s my story.
Early Life
I come by a life in theatre honestly. I’m the son of a set designer and a playwright/director/actress, who met in theatre school. I grew up on stage and back stage, and started acting as soon as I could speak. I cut my teeth on Shakespeare, playing Arthur in “King John” when I was 12. In my teens I learned acting, dance, mime, singing and all aspects of theatre at my mother's theatre school in my hometown of Beverly, MA. I left high school early to attend Simon's Rock College, the nation's premier early entry college. While there, I acted in, directed, and designed plays by Shakespeare, Wilde, Synge, Strindberg-- and earned my Associates Degree and my high school equivalency at the age of 17. After earning my B.F.A. in acting at Boston University, I stayed on in Boston, working at Boston Children's Theatre, where my mom served as artistic director; I also gained my first professional acting experience at some of Boston’s finest theatres.
Impersonator
In 1993, on a lark, I expanded my uncanny vocal impression of Lauren Bacall into a full blown cabaret act, which, unexpectedly, brought me to New York, and launched an eight year career as an impersonator. My original show, “Bacall: By Herself,” caught the attention of the creative team of the Off-Broadway musical revue, “Howard Crabtree's Whoop-Dee-Doo!”. I was offered the job of understudying all nine performers, and given three weeks to move to the city! Over the next several years, I added Marlene Dietrich to my repertoire, developing three solo shows: “Queen of the World,” “Black Market Marlene” and “Marlene! Live at the Café de Paris,” performing at some of New York’s finest cabarets, touring around the U.S., and culminating in 2000 with a two month stint in Berlin, Germany. I was honored with the Back Stage Bistro Award, and was nominated five times for the MAC Award, winning it in 2002 for my revue of Leslie Bricusse songs, “Crazy World.”
TRAINING
Shakespeare and classical theatre have always been my passion. In 2003 I decided to return to school, and received an MFA from the Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy for Classical Acting at George Washington University. Since then I have had the thrill of playing such roles as Macbeth, Mercutio, Talbot, Cade, Casca and Jacques Off-Broadway and at regional theaters and festivals including The Kennedy Center, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, and Taffety Punk Theatre Company in Washington, D.C.
CAREER
A series of happy opportunities landed me the starring role of Sir Robin in the First National Tour of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical “Monty Python's Spamalot”—a credit which sparked what has become an exciting and busy career in musical theatre. I toured North America for two years, working with the show's creators, Eric Idle, Mike Nichols and Casey Nicholaw, and performing with such stars as Richard Chamberlain, Gary Beach and John O'Hurley. Since then, I have had the opportunity to play some of my dream roles in the music theatre repertoire, and have had the thrill of originating parts in new musicals such as “The Road To Qatar!” and “Frog Kiss.” I’ve been fortunate to work at some of the finest regional theaters producing musicals, including Goodspeed Musicals, North Shore Music Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Riverside Theatre, and many more.
Expanding my range of roles, making moves into television, film, and commercials, and continuing to pursue my dream of Broadway continue to inflame my ambition and drive my creative journey. I have also become a passionate coach and mentor for novice and well established performers. I have helped actors land roles on Broadway and beyond, and guide aspiring students to admission in some of our finest training programs and conservatories. Visit my coaching site for more information on my work with actors.
